FOLLOWING a draw last time out, 23-year-old Vito Mielnicki Jr. will be keen to return to the winner’s column as he headlines on home soil against Kamil Gardzielik.
As a four-time Golden Gloves champion, a lot was expected of Vito Mielnicki Jr., 20-1-1 (12 KOs), when he switched to the professional ranks back in 2019. However, a shocking defeat to James Martin in his ninth contest left some questioning his skills.
Mielnicki was able to bounce back and rediscover his momentum to emerge as a top prospect in the super-welterweight division. Maintaining high levels of activity, Vito claimed the WBC Youth and WBC USA titles in the division.
Yet, a below-par display against Khalil El Harraz back in September convinced ‘White Magic’ that he had outgrown the 154lb scene and prompted a move to middleweight, debuting against Derry’s Connor Coyle.
On the Berinchyk-Davis undercard in February, Mielnicki (WBO #10) was unable to kickstart his middleweight chapter with a victory, as the judges ruled a majority draw despite most viewers believing Mielnicki had done enough.
This Saturday, Mielnicki once again shoots for a first win up at 160lbs, topping the bill against undefeated Polish contender Kamil Gardzielik, 19-0 (4 KOs), in his hometown of Newark.
Ranked as the WBO #15, Gardzielik represents a somewhat unknown quantity, having never fought outside of his home country or at this level and fighting 10 rounds only once before in his professional career.
The 32-year-old does not compete with the assumed front-footed Eastern European style but instead fights off the back-foot with an unorthodox style, throwing punches regularly and from a multitude of angles.
Although his lack of punch power makes him an ideal opponent for a newcomer to the middleweight division, it’s hard to envisage the visitor throwing a spanner in the works.
VITO MIELNICKI JR. VS KAMIL GARDZIELIK FIGHT PREDICTION
Despite the draw against Coyle, Mielnicki looked improved in his middleweight debut. Boxing News expects further improvements here, laying down the gauntlet to the rest of the division.
Still, against an unconventional style and up in weight, it could take the youngster some time to figure Gardzielik out before he can land a show-stopping shot or combination.
As a result, BN Online predicts a Mielnicki KO/TKO between rounds 6-10, with the superior skills of ‘White Magic’ evident from the get-go.
